Pinot Noir Calvert
2021
Felton Road is an astonishing overnight success story. In just over 20 years Felton Road has become the global benchmark for New World pinot noir and has played a massive role in making Central Otago a new buzzword in the world of wine. Felton Road winemaker Blair Walter is an exceptional character, blessed equally with intellectual brilliance and extreme modesty. He is a captivating and insightful speaker, with the special ability to articulate complex ideas in such a way that they are made to...
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The purity and integrity of the fruit on the nose is impressive, with ripe strawberries, orange peel and hints of white pepper and dried herbs. It’s medium-bodied with crunchy fruit, lovely fruit tannins and a vivid finish. A mix of Dijon clones. From biodynamically grown grapes.
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A very vibrant and ripe Calvert with attractively spicy oak integration, as well as abundant red and dark cherries. Super fragrant. The palate is so silky and plush, packed with concentrated, fresh red-cherry flavor. Blueberry finish.
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Such a pretty wine with its sappy-edged fruit aromas of pure red cherry, raspberry and redcurrant underscored with hints of pomegranate, rosehip, mountain herbs, almond blossom, violets and sage with flashes of shoyu and charcuterie. Very much a story of flow and elegance, all elements at concert pitch and playing from the same sheet with energy and verve. The interplay between the supple fruit, fine tannin and acidity provides great drinking and promise over the medium-term.
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Lifted aromas of strawberries, cherries and orange peel. The palate is pure with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of raspberries, dried herbs, wet bark and cedar. Very tightly wound with a high tension that will unravel in years to come.
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Fantastic clarity and transparency in this wine with fresh strawberries and cherries. So bright. Medium to full body with very fine tannins that are integrated and energetic. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification.
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The 2023 Calvert Pinot Noir is abundantly berry driven on the nose, with ripe summer cherries, mulberry, forest floor, pomegranate molasses and peppercorns. In the mouth, the wine leads with firm tannins, which are laced with Szechuan peppercorns and sandalwood spice and brought into focus by acidity that skirts the edges of brisk but lands gently on juicy. This is a lovely wine, further compounding my affection for the wines of the 2023 vintage on the South Island.
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Elegant, firmly structured pinot noir with floral, spice, plum and red cherry flavours. Youthful and a little closed at this stage but with the potential to develop well with bottle age. Aerate for best results.
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A very open and plush textured red with velvet and tile undertones. Full and layered with plums and oranges. Firm at the end. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification.
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The 2020 Pinot Noir Calvert may initially seem smooth and refined, but there's no escaping its sense of power; it packs a punch with its concentrated core and structured tannic frame. While you'll find cherry-like fruit and a floral lift, there's a distinctly savory edge to this vintage, which displays Worcestershire sauce, spice and fruitcake alongside herbal notes. It achieves a wonderful balance between the core of ripe fruit and the powerful structure.
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Just a hint of smoke pops up on the nose, along with red cherry and a promise of richness. More air brings something florally scented. There is much concentration and a really fine frame of tannins, this is bold with ripe, juicy cherry fruit and full of verve with very structured tannins. The vines were 20 years old, and the wine spent 16 months in 25% new French oak.
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The 2023 Pinot Noir Calvert is a herbal, scented expression that gives the sense you've just crushed a bouquet garni. It's full, concentrated and sumptuous with ripe black cherries, raspberries and cream. Like other 2023s, this has a richness of tannin and exceptional acidity, coating the palate satisfyingly and providing texture and assurance on the long, spiced finish.
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The deep silty loams of the Calvert vineyard are located just 1.5km east of the Elms vineyard on Felton Road in the subregion of Bannockburn. Pure dark cherry and wild strawberry fruits with a raspberry-pip high tone veiled in souk-like spice, red apple skin, pomegranate, sous bois, charcuterie, a murmur of mountain herbs and turned earth. Superfine, silty tannins and some great fruit intensity as the wine slides across the palate, finishing long and pure.
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